Demon-Hound

TA 2940

Raven's POV

The company from Rivendell joined up with the mixed group of elven and human fighters near the Gladden Fields. I failed to see the finer causes of this, and did not try to understand them very much. What I knew sufficed to satisfy my desire for facts. There was no clear battle front, and the fighting had up to now consisted of defence. Groups of mounted fighters attacked the small garrisons which had collected around the main settlement at irregular intervals. The local forces had tried at first to defend only the settlement, but the hill men had used burning arrows and flung torches when they had breached the lines, and several wooden buildings had caught fire. After that the defence had been spread thinner to encircle the village twice and at a greater distance. That way most attackers could be stopped before they had a chance to fire arrows, and those who breached the first line could still be stopped by the second before they reached the village. But that method had also cost more lives than expected as it tended to pitch one defender against one or more attackers, and there was a distance of several feet between the guards. So far the elven archers making up a third, outer ring of initial defence had prevented greater losses, but reinforcement was gladly accepted.

Gildor had wondered why fighters from Imladris had to jump in when the realm of Mirkwood was about the same distance and could also have sent help. After all, it was them who traded with the Dale humans and their neighbours. Relations between Imladris and Mirkwood, I gathered, were respectful but not extremely friendly. Maybe Elrond would rather send willing fighters of his own than bicker with the woodland realm for a division of duties. I did not mind nor care.

There were actually Silvan elves here we found out when Glorfindel halted to speak to a group of archers, and also a handful of Rangers. They mentioned orcs, but their main concern lay with the fact that the attackers were Men.

"Are we going to battle humans?" I asked with slight discontent later as we surveyed the village from the first line of defence.

Gildor shrugged "Do you care? I thought you were coming here because of battle"

"I have no business with humans" I said "It's orcs I want"

"Well, you're not going to get them now" Gildor slipped of Fairё's back "We will not always be at the village, the idea is to get rid of the attackers and return to Imladris, not to take over their job of guarding. We will mostly have hill men on our hands until then, but the one or other orc will be among them for you, I suppose" He looked around for Glorfindel as I dismounted as well "Could you see Fairё gets something to eat and water before one of the humans tries to be helpful and take her to the other horses?"

"Yes" I took our packs off her back "Where are you going? Oh, alright" I added when he saw Glorfindel coming towards us with Asfaloth trailing behind "Captain's duties"

"Raven" Glorfindel hailed me "Will you take Asfaloth with you when you're keeping an eye on Fairё? He isn't happy getting picketed with the mortal horses either"

"Uh" I gave the huge stallion a doubtful glance "If he comes with me. I am not going to argue with him" As Fairё had decided to include me into her mind-speaking range I could literally argue with her, though she generally obeyed when Gildor told her to stay with me. I would not want trouble with the Captain's own horse.

"Don't worry, I think he is quite tractable if he escapes being gloated over by eager horse-breeders that way. And you can leave the armour on those two, we will be moving further out from the village tonight"

Gildor whistled softly as he went with Glorfindel to meet up with the other leaders "You're leaving Asfaloth with him? What did Raven do to dissolve your doubts about him?"

"Nothing" Glorfindel shrugged slightly and slung his sword across his back "But if Fairё goes with him, he can't be that bad company"

Gildor laughed "Nice that you trust a horse's judgement more than mine"

We had "hill-men on our hands" sooner than expected. At dusk, Glorfindel and Gildor had split our group into six smaller ones and stationed them among the outer defence guards. Together with the Silvan elves this outer line was now considerably better equipped than before. The archers from Imladris had taken places among the original ones.

I had joined the scouts as I was definitely excluded from the front line of the armoured fighters this time. That was an advantage only because scouting was what I felt confident in. It separated me from Gildor and the scout leader was decidedly cold towards me. I ignored the obvious reason for the reserve and simply took up a place in their line. If somebody was displeased with that they should tell me plainly. No one did, so I was a considerable distance from defence lines when the far-scouts returned with alarm.

I climbed a tree and decided I would be archer until I had an idea how these hill-men went about fighting. There were no orcs, and I grimaced when the first fighters came into view. They were trying to be quiet, but only half-heartedly. They also looked more like the remnant of some force than an attacking unit. No bows, but shields, swords and riding leathers. No horses. There were no horse carcasses around the village and no one had mentioned that they had killed hill-men horses. This smacked of a feint, and hopefully that was what the rest knew as well.

Damn, I should really learn this Sindarin language. There was a soft command along the scout line, and the archers nearest to me took off two of the men. Well then, so much for waiting. I nocked an arrow and aimed, but the men had already raised their shields against more arrows from above and moved forward quickly to leave the line of the archers behind. They obviously know this game well – we should change tactics. I moved along the branch and silently praised the forest here. The branches were thick and interlacing, I could even move from tree to tree. I debated dropping down and finishing a few more of this group, but then moved on to see what was behind them. Let the second line deal with them.

I quietly crossed three trees and then stopped to concentrate on the forest. There was an invisible archer right in front of me. I needed a moment to weave a satisfactory maka'a'ra but then – ha. I made a soft sound to avoid getting spitted and moved forward into the archer's tree. He was not of the Imladris group "What are you doing?" he hissed, but I interrupted him, scrabbling the few Sindarin words I knew together and pointing ahead "Look out with…mind. You must…tell…the others" The archers frowned but obviously pieced what I meant together correctly. He looked blank for a moment, scanning the land as I had told him to "Now you are sharp. Come" he grinned and gestured for me to follow. We moved forward along the branches "The others know now. Let's flush these guys out before they assume they could startle us"

We were right above the hill-men in hiding when the archer stopped me "Arrows?" he mouthed "You are no archer"

I nodded "Arrows first, then you give me cover"

It was not really fair, I thought wryly, picking them off in the dark without warning. Five men never got the chance to rise. The Silvan archer was incredibly fast and sure of his aim. I was impressed. I killed two and one arrow went astray. I let the one shoot who was good at it and did my own job. I dropped out of the tree and landed in the middle of the men.

I had always thought orcs were much like elves, but I had been wrong. Even these humans…this was very uncomfortably different from fighting orcs. I had not expected it to be so different. There was no time to dwell on that. The nature of my arrival had thrown the men somewhat, and I killed three with a few rapid strokes of my blade, avoiding their backswings easily. I heard the swish of arrows above the ringing of steel and the hoarse cries.

Even their blood smelled different.

The archer dropped down and drew an elegantly curved sword to join the melee "You are too fast to cover with arrows" he shouted, attacking the men at the same time. I ducked as an axe whistled over my head and threw myself to the ground, swiping at the man's legs. Now this was nasty. My opponent had no shin guards and went down roaring. I grimaced and got to my feet, bringing my sword down forcefully and cutting off the screaming. I whirled when I felt someone at my back, but pulled the strike when I realized the archer had bumped into me and looked just as startled.

"Up" He pushed me towards the tree "Up, there are too many coming" Another archer scrambled down the branches and reached out a hand to pull me up, then left me to help my temporary fighting partner up.

"Stay and shoot from here" the archer ordered as he arranged himself beside me and exchanged his knifes for the bow again. "The armoured fighters are taking over the main attack, and we are up here to pick off what we can"

I frowned, puzzling through the words "Why? That's not -"

"That's the orders"

I was tempted to ask whose, and why they should be valid when it was obvious one could take off more of the enemy on the ground instead of shooting arrows in the dark like an angry squirrel throwing nuts at invaders of its territory. I didn't and took a suitable place higher up the tree, squinting down through the leaves and waiting for a chance to shoot. I got a few chances and counted seven dead more on my roll, but found myself out of my depth. There was something disconcerting about killing humans, though I could not place the feeling. The wolf cared little. He noted other differences to killing orcs that nevertheless missed out what I felt strange about the business.

After a while the archer signalled for me to come down once more, and we inspected the ground around the tree carefully. The hill-men had not taken their dead with them. The archer moved around and checked for survivors. I followed his example, keeping a wary eye on the surrounding forest "You have not killed humans before" the archer stated when he returned from his inspection "It it's not pleasant" he added at my careful nod "They are quite…unorcish"

There was the sound of hooves and we turned, shifting into cover. But it was no hill-man's horse it was "Asfaloth?" I left my cover and glanced at the archer, who shrugged. The riderless stallion stopped and pawed the ground, whickering and throwing his head. I felt my heart skip. Something had gone wrong over there – but why should he bother with me? "He wants you to come with him" the archer said and pushed me forward "Quick"

I moved towards the horse, thinking I spent quite some time being pushed around today. Glorfindel's stallion was even higher in the shoulder than Fairё. I could not reach the saddle horn, so the stirrup was fairly useless. I hooked one foot behind Asfaloth's armour and unceremoniously pulled myself up by Asfaloth's long mane and the side of the saddle, feeling my hands shake.

The stallion turned and surged forward as soon as I had swung a leg over his back and was partly in the saddle. He thundered through the dark forest and towards the village and increased speed when he reached the open space that had been cleared half a mile around the buildings. I clung to the saddle horn as we passed puzzled glances when the Captain's horse galloped past with me, leaping fallen men in his path and swerving sharply whenever someone stumbled into his way. Please let nothing have happened. Asfaloth re-entered the forest on the other side of the village and fell into teeth-rattling trot as he sought a path through thick undergrowth and deeper into the trees. Then he braked sharply to pass the last metres at a slower walk. Glorfindel was there, and so was Gildor.

Thank the gods. I slipped out of the stallion's saddle and stumbled towards Glorfindel who had his bow out and held an arrow nocked. He gave me a dark look and jerked his head towards Gildor. Fairё stood at the edge of the clearing. She had a cut across her side and the strap holding her breastplate to the saddle belt was torn. Which would at least explain why she wasn't sent. Damn – I blinked in surprise. There were two wolves, one on ground before Gildor, the other half hidden in the thicket beyond and fidgeting. It was lean frazzled looking female, whose forepaw was caught in a trapping iron. She had already scratched a shallow pit into the ground in an effort to dig out the chain it was attached to. I dropped to my knees beside Gildor, who was directing all of his concentration at the wolf to keep her from tearing at the iron even more. Being intimately familiar with wolf reactions I knew what immense power Gildor had to be mustering to keep the wolf moderately quiet. I slammed my shields down and reached for the wolf's mind. Unlike the wolves living in Ashi'kha territory she had of course no idea what the Ashi'kha were, but I could talk to her like a wolf, and in terms a wolf understood.

'You can let her go' I told Gildor when I was sure the wolf understood what I wanted. I sensed Glorfindel waiting behind them, ready to shoot should the wolf attack. She didn't. I crouched down beside her and took hold of her ruff 'Can you open the iron?'

Gildor shrugged slightly 'Yes. Don't you think she will attack still?'

'If so, she will bite the one who holds her' I gave him a crooked smile 'Trust me, I know. I would not ask you to open that otherwise'

Gildor took hold of the two iron halves and pulled. The wolf growled. It was a good iron, and very tight. The metal teeth had cut deep into the wolf's flesh. Gildor dug his fingers into the space and pushed the iron halves apart. The wolf snatched her paw back and twisted with a snarl, her teeth leaving bloody gashes on my arm. I grimaced and held on, trying to calm the frantic wolf by mind-touch. She opened her jaws and released me after a moment, whining softly. I glanced at the wolf hiding in the thickets. He would not come out but did not give the impression of being hurt.

Gildor let the iron snap shut again and cast it aside "Didn't Sarno say something about having checked for traps?" he asked Glorfindel darkly "That could have been one of his men as well"

"I can't account for his decisions, can I?" Glorfindel pulled a small bag out of Asfaloth's saddle bags and cast it towards him "Catch"

I let go of the wolf "Thank you" I said softly when Gildor turned back to me. He shook his head "Never mind. You just have to find a way to get the wolves out of here before someone else runs into them. You think that works?" he added as I pulled a strip of linen out of the bag and reached for the wolf's paw again.

I shrugged "We'll see" I gathered what healing energy I had and directed it at the bone as best as I could. I lost some time and precious energy to find out how best to channel the flow.

'Here' Gildor closed his hands over mine and gently took over the channelling. That way we could realign the bone directly and heal most of the damage done to the sinew as well, something I would not have managed on my own. I had to concentrate very hard on my part of simply providing energy for Gildor to channel, so I had no time to wonder why Gildor would voluntarily initiate mental contact with a true wolf. By now I knew how little Khai'toh seemed to cherish both the idea and the sensation of that.

I wrapped the linen around the wolf's foreleg nevertheless when we were finished, hoping she would leave it there at least for a few days. I told her to move away as far as she could, then let her join the young wolf waiting in his cover.

'Why?' I asked Gildor, puzzled 'You even send him to fetch me-'

Gildor shrugged 'Count it as a favour' he replied shortly.

I glanced at Glorfindel who was watching us warily. He shook his head "Wolfskin indeed. Saelbeth mind-spoke us there was trouble as well. At least you have come out of that skirmish over there with your head on"

I had turned wolf that morning when most of my group were off-duty and using the time to rest. If they thought I was sleeping maybe no one would miss me. The two wolves were still nearer than I would wish for them to be. I hunted and killed a grouse for them, knowing the female would have trouble running for a while.

Afterwards I carefully circled the village, looking for more forgotten wolf irons. Since these posed just as much danger to the horses and the fighters Gildor knew he could not order me back on the grounds of unnecessary risk. I was aware of that, but I felt as much driven to care for the wolves as Gildor felt bound by his Captain's duty.

I took a long time for that job as I had to be extra careful both of the Elven guards and possible irons. I found two more and sprung them carefully. It was fully dark when I returned towards the village and heard the noise of fighting. I made for the sounds but then sensed Gildor further away from the centre and changed direction, running towards him and more shouting. I came into the clearing and found only four elves there, on foot and trying to hem in three unhorsed hill-men and their mounted leader. The ground was rocky here and the horse had difficulty finding secure footing. At a command from its rider it shrieked and started forward, crashing through the fighters in the clearing and ploughing towards the darkness of the forest.

"The man! The man! Stop him!"

Several arrows missed its rider or failed to penetrate his armour, getting stuck in the heavy leather.

'Raven, NO'

As wolf I slipped through their legs easily and tore after the horse. I just caught Gildor's furious sending before I could think of nothing else but the chase across the rocky ground.

'Damn you, you thick headed idiot!' Gildor roared after me. A narrow path wound between the overgrown rocks, and I ran so fast I could feel the blood pounding in my ears. The horse in front of me stumbled and slowed to regain its balance. I closed the distance.

"Demon hound!" The human cursed and flung his spear, jerking the horse around. I leaped aside and the spear clanged off the rocks, clattering aside. My prey surged forward again.

If he escaped, he would call too many. I was close behind the horse, getting pelted with stones torn up by the hooves. I snapped but missed the horse's legs. It would not do to lose a fang to this beast. So I feinted, pretending to snap a few times until I had unnerved the horse enough to fight its rider. I had not counted on this one being a battle-trained charger. The horse twisted and kicked out, catching me in the side and sending me flying. That cost it an ungainly leap and its front legs sank into a gap between the stones. The horse crashed to the ground, and the rider was thrown. The charger scrambled to his feet, but without his rider's constraint did not attack again, dancing aside.

Through a haze of pain I hurled myself forward and sank my teeth into the man's ankle, biting through the leather boot in my anger. My prey screamed hoarsely, fumbling for the knife at his belt. I dragged him over the ground and around, hoping to gain time by keeping the man from reaching his knife. Hoof-beats thundered up behind us and I heard Gildor's shouted command to get out of the way, Glorfindel's angry "No, Saelbeth!"

With an act of will I released my hard-won prey and retreated from the kicking man before two arrows hit him in quick succession. I slunk to the side and into the thickets as the other fighters arrived. Dimly, I was aware of a row between Saelbeth and Glorfindel, but the death of our prey satisfied me enough to ignore it for the time being. I flopped on my side and took a few deep breaths, trying to reduce the pain. I had made a similar close acquaintance with caribou horns before, but this time at least it did not feel as if my ribs were broken.

I expected a confrontation for this lone hunt, but I expected it to be as Raven and with the Captain, not as wolf with Gildor. When he reached me a moment later, he was, for some reason, still fuming. More anger than was justified for a thwarted pack leader, the wolf decided. Gildor dropped to his knees beside me and pushed me over roughly, pinning me on my back with one hand in my ruff. My first reaction was to bite him and I just managed to keep the wolf back. Gildor did not bother to use mind-speech, and I flattened my ears back uncomfortably, forcing myself to lie still.

"Give me one damn reason for that, will you?" Gildor snapped softly. "We had a deal, wolf, and this is not the first time you plough over it!"

Ah. It did not concern the wolf alone, but the changerI could not move from my uncomfortable position but swished my tail in anger. Before I could return something Gildor continued. He did not raise his voice, but the hissed words had the same effect as if he had yelled "Do that once more, Raven, and I will not fight a single battle with you again!"

I was caught between the wolf desiring proper submission towards the leader and the anger of my unfurred part. Though the wolf was rather insensitive to verbal reproaches his words stung me. For a moment, I lay quite still, fighting with myself. My side throbbed and I was out of breath. The man was dead, no reinforcement would come. What else could be bothering Gildor? What did he expect me to do!

'Then leave it be' I returned angrily. I got to my feet, pushing up against Gildor's restraint, and limped away.

Gildor's POV

I picked up a rock and smashed it into the jumbled stones, swearing violently. Glorfindel winced at the extremely colourful expression and approached me carefully.

"Leave him be" he said quietly.

"Now you are covering him?" I snarled "He's under your orders. He's supposed to obey them. He's supposed not to drag the whole company on a suicide charge across gravel!"

"No he isn't" Glorfindel agreed "But he didn't drag us, and he caught the man, because he did not hesitate or wait for confirmation. At the moment that is what counts"

"That man" I snapped "could easily have led him right into a waiting line of his buddies. That is why we did not chase after him head over heels. That is why we were agreed on arrows. That-"

"Is true" Glorfindel interrupted me "But in any other case you would be the one to point out that all went well and the result was what counted. At least, that is what you brightly told me after leading your whole damned flank to the front against my explicit orders"

"Do you have any idea how much he really means to me?" I said slowly in measured tones, hovering between anger and desperation. Glorfindel gave me a dark look "I do now. Very much. But I swear he will not change in that respect, and unless he is going to relinquish the hate that drives him, you will have but two choices – to let him fight alone or to fight by his side"

I consciously restrained myself from growling in frustration.

"And really I cannot see you taking the first option" Glorfindel added calmly. The thicket screened us from the sight of the others. I took a breath and let it out slowly, only then realizing Raven's cover had just slipped – completely. At least with Glorfindel.

Now I was in trouble.I groaned "Oh gods, damn it all"

Glorfindel sat down on the boulder beside me "What is he?"

I shook my head desperately "You are too calm to have just found it out"

Glorfindel nodded "I guessed something. When you came to Rivendell with him. I…I can hardly explain to you what I see, but it is like…" he sought for words "When I look at him it is like his shadow is…wolf. I thought at first it was his…let's call it totem. There are human tribes with a strong belief in spirit guide animals. It works…if you have the power to see, you know which animal actually is their…guide. But they do not physically change. Now I just know the wolf is not…just his guide"

"No. He is a wolf if he wants to be one" I looked at Glorfindel searchingly "Who else knows?"

To my relief Glorfindel shook his head "No one else even suspects. Not even Elrond. I guess it is…comes with what I am, that I can see him like that. The others did not see him just now, he's black. So…I take it you…have promised to keep that secret. Wisely, I suppose. And now tell me what he is. And before you ask, I won't say anything. I do not find him trustworthy, but he is not evil"

"Coming from you I suppose that is a statement one can carve in stone" I murmured "He…his people call themselves Ashi'kha. Don't ask me if they are elves or not. I suppose they all look like him, and he is definitely elven. To some degree that is. They all can do that, changing. They are born with the…skill. That's about it"

Glorfindel laughed "You have a werewolf trailing you and tell me that's about it. That can only come from you"

I smiled thinly "He will tell you, he is not a werewolf"

Raven's POV

The atmosphere was humming with tension. Still wolf, I had limped to a small stream further into the forest. I drank deeply, then waded into the water and tried to roll without getting water into my ears. The rough gravel below the water helped clean the dirt out of my fur and the rushing water cooled my bruised flank.

I was in trouble and I knew it. Bad enough that I had ignored a first-rank command from the leader - 'use arrows' - I had ignored Gildor's command. It mattered little if I judged on the grounds of our two-member pack or in military terms. Both ways, Gildor was the leader. I had reacted to the wolf, and as a wolf. Decisions were made and followed in a moment. Immediately. And the wolf almost always decided in the favour of prey. Having to decide just for myself I had been on the go just a second before Gildor, forced to weigh the options for the whole company, had reacted. The trouble was, I could have stopped and given up the chase, but I had not. And worse than disobeying the leader's command, whether Glorfindel's or Gildor's, I had, I guessed, somehow betrayed Gildor's trust. Or his feelings. I could not make up my mind.

The wolf was perfect in obeying when he should – after all, he was a pack animal, and not even the leader. So why hadn't I? Anyway, if a wolf disobeyed the leader the matter was settled on the spot, at once. A growl and a sharp nip to say you had overstepped your bounds. A matter of rank, not of personal like or dislike. I knew that, I could judge that, act according to that. But this was different – two leaders, one under the command of the other, and both had to be obeyed. And Gildor was not only leader, he was a friend. I crawled out of the water and shook myself vigorously, wishing I could shake off my confusion like the water drops in my fur.

When I had settled my coat and looked up I found Glorfindel sitting on the bank, waiting. I froze, shock lancing through me. For a moment I was paralyzed, caught between the impulse to run and anger at my own inattentiveness. Maybe he did not know it was me and thought me just one of the dogs – no, that was silly.

"Here" Glorfindel ordered, his tone making clear disobedience was out of the question and that he knew quite well that the wolf understood him perfectly. Too late then. Expecting another confrontation, I limped up to him, stopping two arms lengths away, waiting. I flattened my ears and kept my tail lowered to show I meant no challenge.

"Wolf" the Captain stated "Not a Raven, then. Shapeshifter or shapechanger?"

I ducked slightly, not wanting to lower my shields to mind-speak Glorfindel. I had offered a much deeper connection to him some days ago, but I was so confused at the moment I did not trust me on this at all.

by the way, you can mind-speak me without unshielding wholly Glorfindel gave me a sarcastic smile you're in luck

I straightened my back and shook my out fur once more, feeling acutely uncomfortable. I had to lower my main shields nevertheless.

'Shape shifter' I tried to watch Glorfindel without looking at him directly 'I can shift from wolf to elf and back, but no other form is possible'

Glorfindel nodded "What is your purpose here?"

That was the question. And I had only one answer for him 'I hunt orcs. And I am with Gildor'

"And are your plans just…coinciding with his, or is there more?"

Now I flattened my ears in anger, quelling the wolf's desire to snarl – Glorfindel could hardly know what I felt for Gildor. When half the time I myself could not say for sure.

"What is Gildor to you, wolf?" Glorfindel asked sharply when I dithered about the formulation. What right have you to ask? I wanted to know but held back. I was hardly in a position to be snappish now.

'He is…my friend…He is pack leader'

"And you?"

That threw both wolf and elf.

"What are you to him?" Glorfindel held my gaze. The wolf was caught between answering the challenge in that stare and looking away. I knew I must not look away if I did not wish to loose any respect or trust Glorfindel might still have in me.

'I am…not sure. I don't know. I…follow him'

Glorfindel crossed the distance between us and crouched down before me "Not that strictly, I see. Do you know what you mean to him?"

I made a slight backward motion before I could catch myself "Don't you dare look away now" Glorfindel took hold of my head and forced me to look up "He takes a hell of a risk in covering you. And maybe you do not realize it, wolf, but you are playing quite a lot with his feelings for you" He was strong. I could feel the collected power focused on me, though he did not use it.

'He knows me' I replied tightly 'He knows my mind. I have no secrets from him'

"No?" Glorfindel gave me another sarcastic smile "I take it he knew nothing about you and your trip with the orcs"

I bared my fangs slightly 'I thought he knew' I said defensively 'I was sure he knew'

"What do you mean he knows your mind? It seems he hardly knows what to make of you so much more than I do" Glorfindel refused to be put off.

'I do not know your people's word for it. I tried to call the Other Wind. There is a ritual to…pull one's fёa back when it…wishes to forsake the body. This…is what he did. I…daresay he knows me'

Glorfindel held my eyes for a long moment. I seized all control I had to keep the wolf from avoiding the look and stood still. I sensed Glorfindel was doing something, but I could detect no direct searching. So I simply waited to what conclusion he would come.

Finally the Captain let me go and sat down "I know him too. Probably better than you. And I can promise you, you put quite some strain on his trust in you with your orc-story. So what about today?"

Unconsciously, I slicked my ruff down 'Someone shouted to keep the man back – so I did. None of the others would have managed'

Glorfindel nodded carefully "I'm not going to reproach you for that. At least you managed to detain our prey without killing him"

I would have frowned. Now I pricked my ears forward once more.

'I took it his death was the aim'

"No, bloodthirsty demon-hound. We were not going to let him escape, but the idea was to keep him a living prisoner"

I was puzzled. 'Why in Middle Earth that? He would not have granted any of us the same…mercy' It was a strange idea to think of imprisonment as mercy. I couldn't do it.

"Probably not. But we could have learned something about the rest of his men. This group today was not the only one skulking around in these hills"

Now that Glorfindel had released me I could move further up the bank to sit down. I had to settle on my side and stretch out my hind legs to keep the pain bearable.

'I do not understand you. There are so many enemies, would you take them all captive and wait for the war to end or their mind to change? Kill them, and be done with it'

"That's about what Saelbeth said. And I would rather do it as well, sometimes" Glorfindel said abruptly, then broke off and sighed "What is the use in telling you it is a horrible feeling to kill men, dark elf? Or wolf?"

Still uncertain, I glanced at him 'Try me, if you like' I said finally 'I have no love for humans, but my people are not born as man-killers'

Now he looked puzzled "Orcs have no choice but to be what they were made to be" he said slowly "But men still have a choice. They could change their minds. And killing them takes that chance away from them. But sometimes I wonder why I do care? They have betrayed us more than once. They could do so again"

I could see what he meant, partly, but say little to that. I knew nothing of betrayal between elves and men. I only knew that dogs were not to be trusted, ever. I knew that I might blend into the world of Rivendell if I was careful. But to get right into action as in this fighting just made my deficiencies in dealing with Khai'toh too obvious.

'I am causing trouble' I said suddenly 'I cannot fight in a group. Maybe I should not go with you any longer. I -'

"No" Glorfindel interrupted me "You had your exceptions and detours, but as yet they were your risk alone, I assume. Excepting your orc-friend, maybe. I would hold it against you did you endanger the whole company with your private war. Even if Gildor thinks otherwise right now. You did not – I would have ordered the riders to stay otherwise" he hesitated "And I would lose Gildor that way. I have a notion he would stay with you if you dropped out"

'No' I said 'No, I think not' Glorfindel had confirmed my assumption that he and Gildor had used to be more than friends, but that was not what troubled me. It satisfied my curiosity, not my desire to find a right way to deal with Gildor.

"Yes. And now let me look at that" he added when I twisted to lick my bruised side without thinking. Even now, I forgot elven conventions. And the idea that he might touch me was unsettling. But I could not jump up and evade him 'It's not much'

Glorfindel smiled wryly "I know, it never is. But we will be here for a while yet, and you will hear awkward questions tomorrow how you could get kicked by a horse in the night"

'Gildor had a different opinion' I returned to the original topic, flinching a little as Glorfindel searched the tender flesh beneath my fur.

"That's a fine bruise you got. The bone is not cracked, though" He pulled a small bulging leather bag from his belt and opened it. The sharp scent of athelas rose from the salve inside and I sneezed violently when I got a whiff. The wolf's nose was extremely sensitive when it came to such scents, I realized. The salve lessened the pain effectively. Glorfindel rested his hands on my side for a moment. I realized he was using healing energy only when it was too late. Suddenly frightened I made to get up. He made a quick motion and laid one hand on my forelegs before I could rise. I froze and remained lying on my side. After a moment Glorfindel withdrew his hands "And Gildor is quite a different matter" he continued easily, ignoring my reaction. He cinched the bag shut and returned it to its loop "It is him you are causing trouble, not the group. That is the fate of anyone who goes into a battle with his companion or mate by his side"

I did not look at him but wrinkled my muzzle in a silent snarl 'I am not -'

"Whatever you are to him. Or will be. Both of you know from experience what lies at the end when you walk that path I think. Gildor's reaction is quite understandable if you ask me. He loves you. Where the wolf goes easily he cannot follow. I suppose it is something different when you are…well, an elf, and fight like an elf"

'Are you telling me I am taking chances with him that I should not?' I demanded, caught between shyness and irritation.

"No. I am not telling you anything. I just ask this - Gildor quite seldom allows himself to show his anger like that. You mean a lot to him, and you should consider that next time"

He got up to return to the rest "When you go back to the village, use the west entrance if you want to avoid questions. I will tell the guard you are coming in later"

I wanted to keep him back and ask what interest he might have in our relationship but remained silent. I could picture that for myself, just his motives escaped me. Had he been Ashi'kha, I would not have doubted his well-meaning. But he was khai'toh, and their pack-law was different from ours. So I lay still for a while, waiting for the pain in my hip to recede some more. I squeezed my eyes shut. He loves you. Glorfindel had not used mind-speech, so I lacked the definite context in which the Elda had used the word. But he had said loves when he could have said likes. He had given something away Gildor had not revealed to either me or the wolf. So what was I to do? Why had Glorfindel done that?

The temptation to remain wolf and sleep out in the forest tonight was great. Before I could give in to that I got up. Whatever Glorfindel had done, it had been very effective. I could walk without a limp. The west-entrance to the village? No. I started to search for Gildor though I had no idea what I should say to him. I just hoped I would find him alone and not in some conference or debate about tactics. Glorfindel's words rang in my mind uncomfortably. I should act on them, immediately. If I was wise, I should. The trouble was, I had no wisdom except the wolf's. And just that got me into difficulties.

First I had to find Gildor. And then wait for a suitable time to broach the subject. However. Fairё.

I drifted along the rows of picketed horses to the place where the few elf horses stood by themselves to graze freely. Intuition seldom failed the wolf. Fairё had lain down at the edge of the space and was dozing with Gildor resting against her side, his eyes closed as well. I stopped uncertainly, mind-speaking Fairё first 'Bad time to appear?'

She had scented me already, and only her ears twitched slightly as she replied not angry

Now that helped much, I thought wryly. It implied a world of other things. I moved up to Gildor and considered how best to wake him, if at all. I stretched out my muzzle and sniffed, trying to find out about his mood. Whether Fairё had told on me or Gildor sensed me, he woke with a start and narrowed his eyes when he saw me.

"Are you mad" he hissed softly "Taking the wolf inside the camp! Change!"

I hesitated, puzzled 'We are not inside -'

Gildor took hold of my muzzle and pulled me towards him slightly "For once do not contradict and obey. Now"

'Then let me go' I retreated a little and ducked before calling the change.

"You have to get along with the horse smell for a while" Gildor took Fairё's discarded blanket and held it out to me. I threw it over my shoulders.

"Look, I – I did not-" I fumbled for words, then gave up and ploughed on "I did not mean to be a self-assured idiot, I did not mean to – to get you into that situation, to force you to keep protecting me, I did not mean to disobey either the Captain's or Gildor's orders, it just – just goes and I can't help it, it is like – the rank of Captain means nothing to me, but I did not mean to disregard what you said, it's just that the wolf was faster and I did not want to turn back once I nearly had him -" I ran out of breath and broke off "I am sorry" I finished lamely.

Gildor rubbed his eyes and gave me a weary look "Do me a favour, Raven, and think next time. I do not ask you to see me as Captain, but to watch your hide. You may not value your life that terribly much, but I feel rather attached to it, you see?"

"Well, you took quite some pains to keep it here" I admitted with a crooked smile "And I don't think I ever said thank you up to now"

Gildor shrugged and got to his feet. He held a hand out to me and pulled me up.

"Spare me having to trade weregild for your black pelt, that is all I ask, alright?" Gildor said as we left the horses and walked into the camp quietly.

This, I decided, was not a suitable time.

Chapter Notes:

Saelbeth: name borrowed from the website where it is translated as "wise words"

Sarno: a human, second chief of the village

Gormach: first chief

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